In growing numbers, parents, teachers and schools are promoting healthier school meal alternatives for students. Food & Water Watch is supporting this effort with a recently launched petition to give all schools the option to choose milk for their students that is free of the growth hormone rBGH.

The Background: The artificial growth hormone rBGH is used in cows to increase milk production. In addition to being unhealthy for cows, it may be linked to cancer in humans. It has been banned in some countries, and US consumers are increasingly choosing milk produced without it. Some companies may be turning to school lunch programs as outlets for milk consumers don’t want. But agribusiness shouldn’t dictate what’s best for school kids. Food and Water Watch’sSchool Milk Campaignis working to make sure all schools have the option to choose milk that is free of rBGH.

What about the cost? Sarah Alexander of Food and Water Watch points out that hormone-free milk is cost-competitive for schools: “The large retail demand has increased the supply of rBGH-free milk, and milk prices in general are extremely low at the moment, so we don't anticipate there being cost issues for most school districts.”